The Washington state Senate gave final approval Monday to a bill banning law enforcement officers from wearing face-concealing masks while interacting with the public, sending the measure to the governor’s desk.
Senate Bill 5855, sponsored by Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, prohibits local, state and federal officers — including agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — from wearing opaque face coverings such as balaclavas, tactical masks, gaiters and ski masks during routine public interactions.
The measure builds on existing Washington law requiring officers to be reasonably identifiable through visible names or other identifying information.
“Our communities deserve to know who is exercising government authority in their neighborhoods,” Valdez said in a statement. “Today’s vote brings us one step closer to greater transparency and accountability.”
The bill drew opposition from Republican lawmakers, who raised concerns about officer safety, and law enforcement has also expressed concern about the impact on undercover operations.
The House passed the bill last week after making tweaks, including allowing officers to wear personal protective equipment required under federal or state safety laws and expanding helmet exemptions for officers operating vehicles such as all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and helicopters. Exempt are facial coverings worn for religious purposes.
With the Senate concurring on those changes Monday, the bill now heads to Gov. Bob Ferguson, who has pledged his signature throughout the session.
When delivering his first State of the State speech to a joint session of the Legislature, he condemned the aggressive conduct of ICE agents in U.S. cities like Minneapolis, where residents captured video of federal agents in masks in unmarked cars detaining individuals.
Let’s get that legislation to my desk immediately so I can sign it into law, he said in his January remarks.
© 2026 The Seattle Times. Visit www.seattletimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
